Cowling and the like fastener



H. J. MURPHY 2,334,680

GOWLING Ami) THE LIKE FASTENERS Nov. 16, 1943.

Filed May 12, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet l 5222878203: l owaz-d cl M77725 3.9

Nov.16,1943. H. J. MURPHY 2,334,680

COWLING AND THE LIKE FASTENERS Filed May 12, 1942 '2 sheets-sheet 2 Fig, Z 1 1:9. 8.

lnveniorl lloward clMurpZy. f

Patented Nov. 16, 1943 'QFFME 2,334,680 cowmnc AND THE Lmn rAsraNaa Howard J. Murphy, Greenwood, Mass,

asslgnor to United-Carr Fastener Corporation, Cambridge,

Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Application May 12, 1942, Serial No. 442501 11 Claims. The present invention relates to fasteners for securing together two plates orsheet-like parts,

such as cowling for airplanes and thelike, and aims generally to improve existing fasteners for that purpose.

One of the objects of the invention is the provision-of an improved fastener employing a rotary fastener member that may be automatically rotated to locked position simply by the movement of the rotary member axially member.

A further object of the invention is to prointo the keepr vide a fastener of the type described that will be adaptable to varying thicknesses of metal sheets.

In the drawings which illustrate one preferred embodiment of the invention:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the keeper fastener member;

' Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation thereof, parts being broken away to show the internal construction;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the cam ring;

Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view thereof;

Fig. 6 is a side view thereof;

Fig. 7 is a top plan View of the actuator ring;

Fig. 8 is a bottom plan view thereof;

Fig. 9 is a side elevation thereof;

Fig. 10 is a disassembled side elevation of the parts composing the keeper member, certain of the parts being shown .in section to facilitate i1- lustration; and

Figs. 11 and 12 are front and side views of the rotary fastener member.

The particular embodiment of the invention which is illustrated in the drawings comprises a rotary member or unit attached to one of the sheets to be secured and a keeper member or unit attached to the other sheet. These fasteners of the rotary type are particularly, though not exclusively, adaptable for use in securing together cowling and the like sheets of aircraft, and it is to be understood that the invention is useful in other installations where it is desired to rigidly secure two sheets of material together.

Referring to the drawings, the rotary fastener member or unit comprises a head portion l9 formed with a slot in the outer face for the reception of ,a bladed tool, as for example, a screw driver. The head portion may be of an axial length greater substantially than the thickness of the metal of the sheet I I so as to have limited axial movement in the aperture l2 thereof. A split ring I! may be snapped onto the head portion so as to retain the rotary member on the sheet or panel H. The rotary member also inv 16) and the end 28 enters an opening 29' in cludes a shank portion H which may have a rounded nose liand laterally extending projections it, as by a pin extended transversely through the shank it. I

The keeper member comprises a rigid, unyieldlng cam member 58 which may be formed of a solid disc, rigidly secured in any suitable manner, as by bolting, riveting or welding to the sheet H. The disc 48 has an axial key-shaped opening, disposed concentrically with the opening I7 of thesheet, said slot having a central circular portion 18 to receive the shank H of the rotary member and lateral entrances 20 to receive the pins or extension 18.

The upper face of the disc it, on each side of the key-shaped opening is formed 'with-an upwardly inclined cam 2i, each cam merging with the upper surface of the disc at one end of the entrance 2!). The high end of each cam terminates in an upstanding rigid latch 22 adapted to seat in a notch or recess 23 of an actuating ring 24 disposed above and concentric with the circular opening i9. This latch 22 also serves as a stop member preventing excessive rotation of the shank M to a position where the arms will realign with the entrances 29.

The actuating member or ring 24 is formed with a base 25 and a downwardly extending shoulder 26 adjacent the races 23 which shoulder noranally-lies adiacent the high end ofthe cam 2| and immediately above one side of the entrance 20. It will be noted that the entrance 20 is wider than the diameter of the pin I9, and is preferably of such width as to accommodate the pin 16 and shoulder 26.

- The upper portion of the actuating member is formed as a reduced sleeve 21 having a central bore to receive the nose and shank ll of the rotary member. Surrounding the sleeve is a coil spring 28 normally under considerable tension and having its opposed ends 28 and 28 fastened respectively to the base of the actuator and an outer fixed housing 29 enclosing the spring. The end 28 of the spring may be seated in a notch 25 in the'base of the actuator (Figs. 7, 8, 9 and the upper end of the housing. The housing 29 is fixedly attached by 39 to the disc l8. Preferably the housing 29 is of such axial depth as to allow for movement of the spring and actuator axially to permit slight movement of the actuator away from the latch 22.

With the e in the positions illustrated n Fig. 3 the keeper is unlocked and is ready to suitable means as by bolts comprising 'comprising'a keeper on 2 receive the rotary member. In this position the spring at is imder maximum tension. As the rotary membergis inserted in the keeper, the shoulders or pins Ii engage the lower face of the actuator to moveitaxially and disengage the recess 23 from the latch 22. Inthis position the member 24 is free to rotate under the action or the spring 28, and as the shoulders 26 lie behind the radial arms IS, the action is to rotate the arms and rotary pin'to locked position.

Ordinarily the action of the spring 28 i sufficient to rotate the pin and radial arms to a full locking position if the thickness of the sheets II and "is accurately controlled. If the radial arms are not moved to full locking position by the spring 20, a further rotation may be efiected manually by means of a bladed tool applied to the slotted head ll thus eifecting a tighter clamping action; The actuator It follows such rotation under tension of the spring 28 and acts as a holding means to prevent backward creep of the arms on the case.

While I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, I do not wish to be limited thereby because the scope of my invention is best defined by the following claims.

I claim: J

1. In a fastener for securing a plurality of supporting members together one of which employs a rotary pin provided with radial arms;

a fastener element for cooperation with said pin a keeper on another of said supporting members and formed with an aperture to receive said pin and arms, and a. spring actuated device associated with said keeper for engaging said arms and fair automatically rotating them into. locking position with said keeper as said pin is inserted axially into said keeper.

2. In a fastener for securing a plurality of supporting members together one of which employs a rotary pin provided with radial arms; a fasftener element for cooperation with said pin comprising a' keeperon another of said supporting members and formed with an axial bore to receive the end of said pin and radial elongations connected to said bore to admit the passage Ofx the radial arms, the opposite marginal edges of said bore and elongations within said keeper being inclined upwardly in opposite directions 3 providing cam surfaces for engagement by said radial arms and a spring tensioned sleeve associated with said keeper for engaging the radial arms of said pin in locked position on said cams.

3. In a fastener for securing a plurality of supporting members together one of which employs a rotary pin provided with radial arms; a fastener element for cooperation with said pin another of said support ing members and formed with an axial bore to receive the end of said pin'and radial elongations connected to said bore to admit the P sage of the radial arms, the opposite marginal edges of said bore and elongations within said keeper being inclined upwardly in opposite directions providing cam surfaces for engagement by said radial arms and a springtensioned actuator associated with said keeper and engaged by said pin for rotating said radial arms relatively to said cams.

radial arms and a spring-tensioned actuator associated with said cams, 'means normally latching said actuator thereto under spring tension, and means for .unlocking said actuator from said cam upon insertion of the pin axially in said keeper.

5. In a fastener for securing a plurality of supporting members together one of which employs a rotary pin provided with radial arms; a fastener element for cooperation with said pin comprising a keeper housing, a cam within said housin formed with an elongated aperture to receive said pin and radial arms, a member associated with said cam and formed with means for engaging the radial arms of said pin, and spring means between said member and housing.

v 6. In a fastener for securing a plurality of supporting members together one of which employs a rotary pin provided with radial arms; a fastener element for cooperation with said pin comprising 1 sage of the pin and radial arms therethrough,

oppositely disposed cams on said member on op- I posite sides of said opening, a sleeve member rotatably mounted on said cams and formed with an aperture to receive the end of said pin, shoulders on said sleeve member engaging the radial arms of said pin, and spring means for holding said shoulders in engagement with said radial arms.

7. In a fastener for securing a plurality of supporting members together one of which employs a'rotary pin provided with radial arms; a fastener element for cooperation with said pin comprising .a member fixedly secured to another of said supporting members and formed with an opening provided with radial elongations to admit the I passage of the pin and radial arms therethrough,

4. In a fastener for'securing a plurality of supporting ploys a rotary a fastener element for mmnrisinz a keeper on oppositely disposed cams on said member on opposite sides of said opening, a sleeve member rotatably mounted on said cams and formed with an aperture to receive the end of said pin; shoulders on said sleeve member engaging the radial arms of said pin, and a coiled spring surrounding said sleeve having one end connected thereto and another connected to a part fixed with reference to said cam for holding said shoulders in engagement with said radial arms.

8. In a fastener for securing a plurality of supporting members together one of which employs a rotary pin provided with radial arms; a fastener element for cooperation with said pin com prising a member fixedly secured to another of said supporting members and formed with an opening provided with radial elongations to admit the passage of the pin and radial arms therethrough, oppositely disposed cams on said member on opposite sides of said opening, a sleeve member rotatably mounted on said cams and formed with an aperture to receive the end of said pin, shoulders on said sleeve member eneasing the radial arms of said pin, and a coiled spring surrounding said sleeve having one end connected thereto and another connected to a part fixed with reference to said cam and normally under tension to hold said shoulders in ena said latch means.

gagement with said radial arms in a position out of alignment with the radial elongations of said openings 9. In a fastener for securing a plurality of supporting members together one of which employs a rotary pin provided with radial arms; a fastener element for cooperation with said pin comprising a member fixedly secured to another of said supporting members and formed with an opening provided with radial elongations to admit the passage of the pin and radial arms therethrough, oppositely disposed cams on said members on opposite sides of said opening, an actuator rotatably movable with reference to said cams, shoulders on said actuator normally positioned at one side of said radial elongations, latch means between said cam and actuator normally holding said shoulders in their normal position, spring means tensioning said actuator to rotate said shoulders and radial arms across said cams, said latch being axially movable relative to said cam means to disconnect 10. A fastener for cowling and the like comprising, in combination, a rotary fastening element having a head and shank and radial arms extending from said shanlg, means for loosely securing said rotatable element to one of the members to be supported permitting rotatable and limited axial movementthereto, a. cooperating fastening element mounted on another of the members to be supported and comprising a base formed with an elongated opening to admit the passage of the end of the shank and radial arms of the rotatable element, oppositely disposed arcuate outwardly rising cams on said base for en- 3 easement by said radial arms, a rotatable mem-- ber axially disposed with reference to said cam and base opening normally latched thereto, and formed with recesses for the reception of the radial arms of said pin, said pin being rotatable to move said radial arms across said cams to tightly clamp said membersto be supported, and means acting upon said rotary member for holding said radial arms in their selected clamping positions on said cams;

11. A fastener for cowling and the like comprising, in combination, a rotary fastening element having a head and shank and radial arms extending from said shank, means for loosely securing said rotatable element to one of the members to be supported permitting rotatable and limited axial movement thereto, a cooperating fastening element mounted on another of the members to be supported and comprising a base formed with an elongated opening to admit the passage of the end of the shank and radial arms of the rotatable element, oppositely disposed arcuate outwardly rising cams on said base for eneasement by said radial arms, a rotatable member axially disposed with reference to said cam and base opening normally latched thereto and formed with recesses for the reception of the radial arms of said pin, 'said pin being rotatable to move said radial arms across said cams to tightly clamp said members to be supported, and spring meansacting upon said rotary member for holding said radial arms in their selected clamping position on said cams.

HOWARD J. MURPHY. 

